Alkyd resins made from a polymerized alcohol and method of preparation



Patented Sept. 2, 1952 UNITED STATES v 2,609,358 OFFICE ALKYD RESINS MADE FROM A POLYMER- IZED ALCOHQL AND METHOD OF PREP- ARATION Harry Fred Pfann, Mount Lebanon, Pa., and Edward L. Kropa, Old Greenwich, Conn, assignors to American Cyanarnid Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Maine No Drawing. Application April 1, 1947, Serial No. 738,736

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful compositions, specifically resinous compositions, whichare especially suitable for use in the plastics and coating arts, and to methods of preparing the same. More particularly the invention is concerned with compositions comprising a resinous product of, reaction of in gredients comprising (1) a monocarboxylic acid, more particularly an aromatic monocarboxylic acid, a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic monocarboxylic acid, etc., (2) a polycarboxylic acid (e. g., a di-, trior tetracarboxylic acid) and (3) a polymer of an alcohol having an unsaturated linkage between two carbon atoms in an aliphatic grouping, one of which carbon atoms is directly linked to a saturatedcarbinol carbon atom, more particularly a polymer of an aliphatic monohydric alcohol having 'a terminal methylene grouping attached by an olefinic double bond to a carbon atom which is directly linked to a saturated carbinol carbon atom, e. g., polymers of allyl alcohol and methallyl alcohol, specifically olymers of such alcohols'wherein the average number of primary hydroxyl groups per molecule is between three or four and about ten. The scope of the invention includes methods of preparing such compositions, as well as the resinous products in soluble, fusible or heatcurable state and in substantially insoluble, substantially infusible or cured state.

The invention claimed herein is directed specifically to a method of preparing a resin comprising the steps of (1) partially esterifying (a) a polymer of an alcohol having ethylenic unsaturation between two carbon atoms in an aliphatic grouping, one of which carbon atoms is directly inked to a saturated carbinol carbon atom, e. g., allyl alcohol and methallyl alcohol, said polymer containing an average number of CH2OH groups per molecule of from three or four to ten, with (b) a member selected from the group consisting of saturated, ethylenically unsaturated, and aromatic monocarboxylic acids containing more than one carbon atom, and anhydrides thereof, and (2) completing the esterification reaction at a temperature within the range of 150 C. to 250 C. by reacting,'until a com- 7 position having an acid number of from to about 160 has been obtained, the product of partial esterification of (a) and (b) with (c) amember selected from the group consisting of saturated, ethylenically unsaturated, and aromatic polycarboxylic acids containing more than two carbon atoms, and anhydrides thereof, said ingredients of (b) and (0) being employed in an amount corresponding'to from 'aboutlo to about 70 mol per cent of the latter to from about 90 to about 30 mol per cent of the former, and'the ingredient of (a) being employed in an amount corresponding to from aboutB to 30% inexcess of that required for complete esterification of the ingredients of (b) and (c) and constituting at least 30 of the total polyhydric alcohol rcactant. The invention herein claimed also 'includes resins which are productsof the afore-i mentioned method.

Polymerized allylalcohol and methods of 'preparing the same are disclosed and claimed incur". aforementioned copending application Serial No.1 413,684 and now abandoned. As therein '-set' forth, allyl alcohol can be polymerized undercertain conditions to obtain polymeric materials properties which make them? g.,-by.sub--.

possessing unusual useful for many industrial purposes, e. jecting the said alcohol to the influence of oxygen in numerous ways, as, for example, by blowing oxygen gas through the alcohol until the de-'; sired degree of polymerization has been attained.

A more detailed'description of the polymerization of allyl alcohol is given hereinafter.

Among the uses of polymers of allyl alcohol" disclosed in our copending application Serial No.- 4l3,684 isas alcohols in the manufacture of alkyd resins. (As is well known, alkyd resins: are formed by effecting reaction between ingre dients comprising a polyhydric alcohol and a polycarboxylic acid in the presence of absence of modifying substances.) Since alkyd resins made from such polymers are compatible with,, for example, urea-formaldehyde and melamine formaldehyde resins, such an alkyd resin mayba employed to modify and to add to some: of the essential properties of the resin into which itlisi incorporated.

The p ymerization of methallyl alcohol is closed and claimed in our application Serial N01 413,685, filed October 4, 1941, now Patent No. 2,401,959, issued June 11, 1946. It is also dis-' closed therein that, upon'reaction with organic dicarboxylic acids such as phthalic acid, suecinic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, sebacicacid and the like, the polymers, of methallyl alcohol form esters that are'easily polymerized'tdalkyd resins, and that they are well adapted forthe formation of oil-acid modified alkyd. resins of the drying or' non-drying type by reacting to-. gether one or more mols of the polymerized methallyl alcohol with one or more mols. of one: of the above-mentioned organic dicarboxylic acids such as phthalic acid and its 'anhydride and with one, two, three or four mols of a higher; fatty acidsuch as stearic acid, oleic acid,'linoleic acid, mixed fatty acids obtained from the .hy-.' drolysis of linseedoil, dehydrated castor oil and the like.

In Bradley application serial No. 413,646, filed' October 4', 1941,'now' Patent 'No."2,378,827, issued oils consisting of a polyallyl alcohol having at least five esterifiable primary hydroxy groups esterified with higher fatty acidsihaving an iodinevalue of at least 100, e. g., fatty acids derived from dehydrated castor oil, soya bean oil, linseed oil and their conjugated isomers, etc

It was suggested prior to our invention that modified alkyd resins be prepared-in which the polyhydric alcohol reactant is replaced in part. by a monohydric alcohol, among which allyl alcohol specifically has been mentioned; In the preparation of such modified alkyd resins, it has been stated that the monohydric alcohol should be caused to react first with the polybasic acid reactant before the polyhydricalcohol is caused to take part in the reaction. In such alkyd :resins azpolymer of allylalcohol notiused as an initial reactant, :nor is such a polymer formed. during the .courseiofv the reaction.

ZKrcpa and Bradley application Serial No. 3083958,.now Patent No. 2,280,242, and in Patterson. :applicationfierial No. 308,953, new Patent No. 2,280,256, both of which applications *were filed'z'December :13, 1939' and-issued as patents. on April. :21, .1942, is :disclosed the preparation .of heat-rand oxygen-convertible resins by estenifyingza idlBHZBbDX-YHC acid or-anhydride, e. -g., maleic anhydridepin the presence or absence of a monocarboxylic acid, with a mixture including a polyhydric alcohol and an unsaturated monoh-ydric alcohol, specificallyiallyl alcohol. The resins are. formed either by the simultaneous interesterification of the reactants or by partially esterifying thedicarboxylic :acid :or anhydride with the polyhydnic al-lcoholxand .esterifying the resulting prodnet with. the unsaturated .monoh-ydric alcohol. The unsaturated monohydric alcohol reactant is used in its monomeric inmnand not as apol-ymer. l mrthermore, the monomeric unsaturated alcohol is not, because of thereaction conditions, con' vertedtoa polymeric alcohol; during the=course ofthefireaction, but :in .markedcontrastis either immediately esterified. or becomes chemically combined in :an interesterification product.

the use of 1a :monomeric unsaturated monohydric ia'lco'hohe. g., monomeric allyl alcohol, as aboyeldescribed, .no particular problems are oncounterediin its esterification to form, for example, a synthetic dryingoil or in incorporating it into an alkyd resin to yield a modified alkyd resin. However, when effort is made to utilize a polymer of an alcohol of the kind described in the second paragraph of this: specification (especially those, which contain an average of at least five" primary hydroxyl groups per molecule) as the. polyhydric alcohol reactant with a polycarboxylicxacidzin the preparation of unmodified alkydresins, considerable-difiiculty isencountered because of the highreactivity of the polymeric alcohol and the resulting tendency of the. resin to gel before a material of sufiiciently low acid nnmberxhas been obtained. On the other hand, polymers of the alcohols'usedinpracticing our invention, especially the water-insoluble polymecshave particular and unique properties, e. .g.. water resistance, which arenot possessed by conventiona'l'polyhydric alcohols, e. g, glycerol, and these' properties are imparted to a large extent toalkydresins made from such polymeric alcohols.

The present invention isbased on our discovery that a new class of alkyd resins having valuable and unoibvious properties. can-be produced, and thespossibilities of gelation-during the ester-incation. reaction can be obviated r minimize as briefly described in the second paragraph of this specification and more fully hereafter. The cured lmodifiedialkyd resinssof this invention are characterized. by their better Water resistance and greater hardness than alkyd resins of similar .formulation in which a conventional polyhydric alcohol, e. :g, g col, glycerol, pentaerythritol,

sorbitol, etc., is used as a reactant. Furthermore, the heat-curable resins are faster curing and, in the case of the drying oil acid-modified resins,

are :faster drying than the prior resins of similar formulation in which glycerol or other conventional-polyhydric alcohol is utilized.

The resinous compositions of this invention may he prepared, in .the form of. air-drying-or baking typesv of materials and hence have wide application inindustry, .e.. g., in the paint, varnish, lacquer and electrical insulation fields. After air-drying or curing theresin films possess ex cellent oil, water zandaging. resistance and out--' standing hardness.

Although the simultaneous interesterification oiall the reactants isnot precluded in. practicingour invention, we prefer to prepare our .resinous compositions by eiiecting reaction :between ingredients comprising (1-) a polycarboxylic acid with (2) a product of partial reaction or esterification of (a) a polymer of an.

alcohol of the kind set forth in the second paragraph of this specification, more particularly such a polymeric alcohol wherein the average number of reactive hydroxyl groups per molecule is at least three, preferably betweenfour or five and about tan. with (b) a monocarboxylic acid. By first partially esterifying the polymeric alcohol with a monocarboxylic acid,

better .results :are obtained, especially from the.

standpoint of ease of reaction of the resulting product with the polycarboxylic acid without gelation. of the. resin, before aproduct of a desired acid number has been obtained.

The ratios of the reactants may be considerably varied depending, for example, upon the particular reactants employed and the particular properties desired in the finished product. Good results are obtained by using the monocarboxylic acid and polycarboxylic acid, specifically dicarboxylic acid, in an amount corresponding to from aboutlO to about '70 mol per cent of the latter to from about 90 to mol per cent of the former, more particularly from 20 to v mol per cent of the latter to from to 40 mol per cent of the former. We prefer to use an excess of the polymeric. alcohol over the theoretical quantity needed. for complete esterification of the. monocarboxylic and polycarboxylic acids, since excess acid in the resin is generally considered undesirable whereas a small excess of the polymeric alcohol is not objectionable, and in some cases may even be very desirable, .for example, in improving the compatibility of the alkyd resin with urea-formaldehyde, melamine-formaldehyde and other resinous ma terials. The presence of some unesterified hydroxyl groups, e. g., from about 5 to 15 or 20% of the total hydroxyl groups in the initial polymeric. alcohol, also is sometimes beneficial in providing better compatibility of the alkyd resin with other resinous compositions, examples of which have been given above. Quite surprisingly, by using a polymeric alcohol of the kindhereinbefore described it is possible to produce a soluble, fusible alkyd resin containing, free bydroxyl groups and or improved compatibility,

characteristics, whereas mm other polyhydric alcohols, e. g., glycerol, thesoluble, fusible resins containing free hydroxyl groups are substantially lower in molecular weight. When an excess of the polymeric alcohol is employed,- a

suitable amount is, for example, from about 3 to 30%, usually about to in excess ofthat' stitution of thepolymerie alcohol for only a small part of ethylene glycol, glycerine, pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol, sorbitol or other poly-j hydric alcohol heretofore used or suggested for use in thepreparation of alkyd resins will result inonly a relatively small improvement in the properties of the product. The polymeric'alcohol may constitute the sole polyhydric alcohol reactant or, as indicated above, substantial proportions thereofmay be used in conjunction with other polyhydric alcohols. Improvements in hardness,.water resistance andin other properties hereinbefore mentioned are obtained when the polymeric alcohol constitutes at least 30%, preferably 40% or more, of the total polyhydric alcohol reactant. y,

The resinous compositions of this invention may be prepared by heating together at an elevated temperature, e. g., at a temperature within the range of, 150.to 250 C. or higher, ingredients comprising (1) a monocarboxylic acid, (2) a p'olycarboxylic acid and (3) a polymer of an alcohol of the kind described in the second paragraph of this specification. Preferably they are prepared by first partially esterifying the polymeric alcohol, e. g., a polymer of an aliphatic monohydric alcohol having a terminal methylene grouping attached by an olefinic double bond to a carbon atom which is directly linked to a CH2OH grouping, which polymer contains an averagenumberoi primary hydroxyl groups per molecule of between about four and about ten,"

with (2) a monocarboxylic acid. The resulting partial esterification product isthen esterified with a polycarboxylic acid or anhydride, more particularly a dicai'boxylic acid or anhydride, e. g., phthalic acid or anhydride, until a resinous composition of the desired acid number, for instance an acid number of about or substantially below 160, e. g., an acid number of 5 to 150, has been obtained. This latter reaction is effected at a suitable elevated temperature, e. g., at a temperature within the range of 150 to 250 C. The reactants advantageously are used in relative proportions such 'as have been mentioned hereinbe'fore. When light-colored'products are desired the reaction preferably is conducted in,

an atmosphere free from oxygen. An inert atmosphere, e. g., an atmosphere of carbon dioxide, flue gases or nitrogen, over the'reaction massalso advantageously is employed when the monocarboxylic acid reactant is a drying or semidrying oil fatty acid or mixture of fatty acids.

The polymeric alcohols which are used in practicing the present invention are productsof polymerization of alcohols having an unsaturated linkage between two carbon atoms in an aliphatic grouping, one of which carbon atoms is directly linked to a saturated carbinol carbon atom. have a structure which may be represented by the formula I l I The monomeric unsaturated alcohols Generally weuse polymers of alcohols" having a terminal methylene grouping attached -by -an olefinic double bond to a carbon atom which-is directly attached to a saturated carbinol carbon atom. Such alcohols have a structure which may be represented by the formula Good results are obtained with polymers of al-1 cohols having not more than about eighteen. carbon atoms and having at least one unsaturated? carbon-to-carbon linkage for each six carbon.

atoms. We prefer to use a polymer of an allphatic monohydric alcohol having a terminal. methylene grouping attached by an olefinic;

double bond to a carbon atom which is directly linkedtoa ing.

Allyl alcohol a -Chloroallyl alcohol Methallyl alcohol Crotyl alcohol (z buten-l-ol) Ethallyl alcohol 3-hydroxy-1-butene 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-1-butene 3-hydroxy-3-ethyl-1-butene 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-butene 3-hydroxy-2,3-dimethyl-1-butene 3-hydroxy-1-pentene 3 hydroxy-3-methyl-1-pentene 3-hydroxy 3-ethyl-l-pentene 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-l-pentene 3-hydroxy-1-hexene Cinnamyl alcohol Tiglyl alcohol 2-cyclopentenol Z-cyclohexenol 1-hydroxy-2-methyl 2-pentene 1-hydroxy-2-methyl-2-hexene 3-chloro-2-buten-1-ol l-hydroxy-2,3butadiene 3-hydroxy-l,4-pentadiene l-hydroxy-2,4hexadiene l-hydroxy-2,5-hexadiene 2hydroxy-3,5-hexadiene I 4-hydroxy-2,5-dimethyl-l,5-hexadiene B-hydroxy-l-hexen-E-yne 3-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-penten-4-yne 1-hydroxy-3,7-dimethyl 2,7-octadiene Any suitable methodmaybe employed in preparing the polymeric alcohols used in practicing our invention. They can be polymerized by sub jecting them to the influence of oxygen, e. g.,

by passing oxygen through the heated alcoholinthe presence or absence of an oxygen-yieldingsmall proportion of oxygen the reaction proceeds. very slowly under these conditions and, es-

pecially in the case of the more volatile alcohols,

the large volume of air required-may lead to the loss of considerablequantities ofalcohol, from the reaction mass' by volatilization. Qzonized air may be employed if'desi'red.

grouping, more particularly a -CI 1zOH-group 'i Airmay be used as thesource of, oxygen, but since air contains only a relatively,

' Rolymerization. o1, allylalcohcl Inpolymerizing' allyl alcoholthe polymerization reaction preferably iseffected at temperatures o'f the order or 85 C. or higher. Asallyl alcohol boils I at 96 C. it is convenient to the polymerization by blowing oxygen through the alcohol heated to its refluxing temperature. Production of polymerized allyl alcohol is speeded up considerably when operating at temperatures above the boiling point of the alcohol. To obtain-these higher temperatures it is necessary to work under pressure; and" we have found that itis' possible to produce fairly high yields of polymer in a matter of a few hours by operatingat* higher temperatures and at superatmospheric,

pressures, which conditions may be obtained by theuseof a pressure autoclave. Aiurther in-- crease in the rate of polymerization may beobtained by the use of suitable catalysts. We have found that, for example, diallyl ether will reduce considerably the inductionperiod which precedes to polymerize it. Suitable purification steps include simple distillation of, the alcohol or, preferably, distillation of the alcoholirom an alkali such as NaOH, KOH, CaO, etc. Alcohol purified in this manner polymerizesmuch more readily than contaminated alcohol.

When polymerizing allyl alcohol as above described, a small amount of the alcohol may be oxidized to acrolein which, in turn, may be oxidized to acrylic acid. These two latter substances may polymerize and form by-product materials in the reaction product. It is also possible that some of the acrylic acid and/or acrolein may copolymerize with unpolymerized or partially polymerized allyl alcohol to yield complex copolymers. Also, acrylic acid may react with part of the allyl alcohol or with part of the polymeric allyl alcohol (polyallyl alcohol) in the-reaction mass to form esters.

The possibility that at least some of these side reactions may take placeis indicated by the fact that most of the products formed as above briefly described andmore fully in our aforemen tioned copending application Serial No. 413,684 show on chemical analysis small acid numbers, ester numbers and saponification numbers, indicating the presence of small amounts of acid and esterand other complex structures in the polymericmaterial. The iodine values obtained upon analysis of many representative samples'of polymerized allyl alcohol have indicated, however,

that the product has a molecular weight corresponding to an average of between three or four and about ten, in most cases at least five (e. g-., from five to ten or more) units of approximately the same molecular weight as allyl alcohol per molecule of polymer. 'I'hepolymerization prod.- uct'sjalso generally show a hydroxyl number of at'least500, whichgindicates that the polymer is essentially alcoholic in structure.

conduct a purer product may be; obtained, if, desired,

byremoving any unpolymerizedgallyl alcohoLor any acryliaacid. acrolein. polymers oilew-moleq may beremoved by volatilizatiome. g., by. heat ing the-polymeric product under a pressure oi a few. millimeters, or by blowing steam through.

thereaction product, or by bothsuch means. The,

use of steam tends tohydrolyze any ester group-. ings, thereby adding to thenumber 0i hydlfoxyl; groups in, the polymeric material.

Products obtained, bythe-Polymerization;clai-= lyl alcohol as above described vary innature,

fromthin, syrupy balsams tov thermoplasticjsoleids depending, for example, upon their degree,- oi polymerization. They are, usually colorless, and transparent. The polymers, increasein spe cific gravity. and index of refraction with, in crease in polymerization, butin general have spe. cific gravitiesat 25 C. of. at least l.00,and an ins dex ofrefraction at 25 C. ofat, least 1.450. They are insoluble in water, benzene, camphor, aeeto phenone, dioxane. and. acetone but may be dissolved inalcohols (e. g., methyl, ethyLbutyl, etc.. alcohols) and, surprisingly, are more solublein alcohol-water mixtures than in alcohol, alone.

Various uses of polymerized allyl alcohol are given in our aforementioned copending applica-. tion Serial No. 413,684, including their use, as alcohols in the manufacture, of alkyd resins. Reference also is made to this same application for more detailed information on the prepara-. tion of polymeric allyl alcohol, including illus-. trative examples thereof As shown in Example.

5 of application, Serial No. 413,684, polymeric;allyl vIn a manner similar to that described above alcohol also can be produced by polymerizing and in application Serial No. 413,684 with particular reference to theproduction of polymericv allyl alcohol and in Patent No. 2,401,959 with par-. ticular reference to the polymerization of moth-- allyl alcohol, other unsaturated alcohols of the.

kind mentioned in thesecond paragraph ofthis specification, numerous examples of whichhereinbefore have been given, may be polymerized. The polymerizationproducts.may be described as, being oxy-condensation, polymers, of the unsaturated alcohol in which the, monomer units arejoined principally by carbon-to-carbon linkages. However, a minor proportion of the units-,maybe joined by ethereal oxygen atoms. .As indicated hereinbefore, the majority of the time tional groups in the polymer are hydroxy groups, although there also may be present, units of unsaturated acids, unsaturated alcohol esters of; .unsaturated acids and/or unsaturated laldehydes. Thus, in the products obtained bypolymerizing, for example, allyl alcohol there maybe present units from acrylic acid, allyl acrylate and/or acrolein.

Other methods alsomay be used in the prep aration of the polymeric alcohols. For instance, the unsaturated alcohols can be formed from derivatives (.e. g,,.halides and esters) of unsaturated alcohols. The halides can be polymerized, for example, by treatment with boron fluoride under anhydrous conditions at-a low temperature as described in Patent No. 2,331,869,- by exposure to actinic light, or by a combination of such methods. The polymeric halides then are hydrolyzed by suitable means, e. g., under the catalytic action of a cuprous compound, to the corresponding polymeric alcohol. r

Various unsaturated alcohol esters may be polymerized, e. g., by heating in the presence or absence of a polymerization catalyst, and the polymeric ester then hydrolyzed to yield a polymeric alcohol of the kind used in practicing the present invention. Illustrative examples of unsaturated alcohol esters that thus may be polymerized and subsequently hydrolyzed are: allyl acetate, methallyl acetate, crotyl acetate, allyl propionate, ethallyl butyrate, a-chloroallyl acetatacinnamyl propionate, the butyric ester of S-hydroxy-l-butene, allyl benzoate, fi-methoxyallyl acetate, diallyl phthalate, diallyl succinate, diallyl adipate, dicrotyl dilactate, diallyl dihydracrylate, dipropargyl diglycolate, diallyl dilactate, dimethallyl diglycolate, etc. The polymeric alcohols are formed from the polymeric esters by any suitable means, e. g., by hydrolysis or alcoholysis thereof. Alcoholysis of the polymeric eshols used in practicing the present nvent on ters may be effected in the presence of an alcoholate of a basic metal.

Various polycarboxylic acids, including saturated aliphatic polycarboxylic acids, alpha,betaunsaturated polycarboxylic acids and aromatic polycarboxyli'c acids, may be used in practicing our invention. Illustrative examples of such acidsare malonic, succinic, glutaric, adipic, pimelic, suberic, sebacic, azelaic, citric, tricarballylic maleic, monohalomaleic, fumaric, monohalofumaric, citraconic, mesaconic, aconitic, itaconic, phthalic, benzoylphthalic, diphenic, terephthalic, benzophenone 2,4 dicarboxylic, etc.,, acids. If available, anhydrides of the polycarboxylic acids may be employed, e. g., maleic anhydride, phthalic anhydride, anhydrides formed by adding maleic anhydride to a conjugated diolefine or to a similar compound having a conjugate system of double bonds, etc. The terms polycarboxylic acid and dicarboxylic. acid as used generally herein include within their -meanings the anhydrides of the acids. 1"

stead of-the various triglycerides mentioned above the various inonoglycerides andf'digl'yc erides' of the fatty acids also may be employed if desired.- I

When the oils are used alcoholysis occurs,

that is, glycerol is split off thereby allowing the fatty acids to combine with the polymeric alcohol. Insuch an ester interchange reaction an agent for promoting or accelerating/the reaction usually is employed, for example abasic material such as sodium or potassium hydroxide or carbonate, calcium hydroxide, etc. .The glycerol ordinarily is not removed from the re,- action mass, since it will react with any esteriw fiable groupings present in the monocarboxylic and polycarboxylic acid reactants thereby fur-.- ther to decrease the possibility of gelationfand to modify the properties of the finished alkyd resin. If available anliydrides of monocarboxylic acids may be employed, e. g., acetic anhydride. The term monocarboxylic acid as used generally herein includes within its meaning the anhydride of such an. acid. i

As indicated hereinbefore, the polymeric alcohave a high reactivity and tend to form agel, when used alone as a reactant with av polycarboxylic acid, before a resin having a, sufiiciently low acid number has been obtained. The addition of rosin, tall oil or other monocarboxylic acid or monocarboxylic acid-containing material, numerous examples of which have been given above, minimizes the possibility of gelation' and allows the reaction to proceed until a resin of lower acid number and of improved solubility characteristics has been obtained. The addition of other reactants, in addition to .a monocarboxylic acid, such as a monohydric alcohol (e. g., methyl, ethyl,propyl, butyl, benzyl, cyclohexyl, etc., alcohols), aswell as ethyleneglycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, glycerol,

and similar polyhydric alcohols, further aids in continuing the reaction, without gelation, until the acid number has reached the desired point. Monohydric alcohols and the lower polyhydric alcohols, such as' mentioned above, internally A wide variety of monocarboxylic acids or mixtures thereof maybe used in carrying our invention into effect, including saturated and unsaturated. aliphatic monocarboxylic acids and 'aromaticmonocarboxylic acids. Illustrative examples. of" such acids are acetic, phenylacetic, propionic, butyric, valeric, caproic, heptylic, ,caprylic, nonylic, capric, palmitic, margaric,

stearic, ,crotonic, ,oleic, palmitoleic, linoleic, linolenic, arachidonic, clupanodonic, vlicanic, -eleostearic, ricinoleic, ricinic, lactic, benzoic, toluic, salicylic, abietic, tall oil, which contains both 'rosin acids and unsaturated fatty acids, etc.- A

single or a plurality of monocarboxylic acids may be employed. We may use acids "derived from non-drying, semi-drying or drying oils, e. g.,'

the fattyacids of tung. oil, he mpseed oil, candle nut oil,'linseed oil, perillaoil, safflower oil, soya bean oilywalnut oil, oiticica oil, castor oil, dehydrated castor oil, blown castor oil, isomerized linseed oil, fish oils, blown fish oils," rubberseed oil,-,rapeseed oil, cottonseed oil, coconut oil, poppyseed' oil, sunflowerseed oil, palm oil, corn oil, wheatqoil, sesame oil, peanut oil, olive oil,.etc.

; Oils -,=;s1ich as mentioned above are mainly plasticize'the resin'and tend to yield heat-l-curable preda e which are less hard, lower 'in vmelting 'p'ointand more soluble in organic solvents than the products obtained when such alcohols are omitted. Saturated aliphatic monocarboxy lic acids,'e. g., acetic, butyr'ic, stearic p"almitic, etc., also internally pla'sticize-the resina'nd tend .to yield products which -are s'ofter and more soluble inorganicsolvents than the resins obtained [when an unsaturated aliphatic. monocarboxylic acid is used. v r

When air-drying or rapidly curing resins are desired, a semi-drying or drying oil or fatty acids derived from such oils are used. Because of the numerous hydroxyl groups (e. g., anaverage of live to, tenor more per .molecule) .inthepolymeric alcohols used in" practicing ouriinvention, a large number of unsaturated fatty'acid'radicals can be caused to reactwith these hydroxyl groups, so that the resulting heat-curable alkyd resin has a high degree of functionality and "can poly-v .merize very rapidly. By the use offapolymeric alcohol of. high, reactivity such as", has been described herein, airedrying alkyds can be:- prepared using semi-drying oils, e. g.,;palm, .corn; 'cottonseed, sesame, etc.; oils,'; or acidsderivedv thereglycerides, more particularly triglycerides, of

'fatty acids. 'Such oilsmaylbe used .insteadof from, as the modifying'reactant: The drying properties of alkyds prepared fromr'drying" oils or drying oil acid's areaimproyedirby using one 11 driii'orebf the aforementioned polymeric alcohols asthe polyhydric alcohol reactant in making the alkyd resin.

Fatty acids obtained by the hydrolysis or saponification of animal or vegetable oils such as above mentioned are preferred when it is desired to avoid the presence of glycerol in the reaction mass. Either mixed fatty acids derived from such oils or the individual acids present therein in relatively pure state, e. g., saturated or unsaturated'aliphatic monocarboxylic acids, may be employed. Unsaturated aliphatic monocarboxylic acids, and especially the polyunsaturated aliphatic monocarboxylic acids, e. g., linoleic, linolenic, eleostearic, etc., are preferred when resinous compositions having optimum air-dryln'g' characteristics are desired. Tall oil is especially suitable for use asthe modifying reactant in practicing the present invention. It consists mainly of fatty acids, fatty facid'soa'ps, rosin (including rosin acids) and unsaponifiable compounds. Either crude or refined tau oils may be used, or tall oil fatty'acids, or mixtures containing tall oil fatty acids and rosin acids. We may use tall oil which has been treated to improve its color and odor by heating 'with metallic zinc as more fully described and claimed in the copending application of Jerry J. Sme'rechniak and George W. Barlow, Serial No. 732,932, filed March 6, 1947, now Patent No. 2,515,739, dated July 18, 1950. The term tall oil acids as used in the appended claims includes both the individual monocarboxylic acid components of tall oil in relatively pure state, as 'well as the crude and refined mixtures of tall oil acids as ordinarily produced regardless of the relative proportions of ingredients in the mixture.

In, order that those skilled in the art better may understand how the present invention may becarried into efiect the following examples are given by way of illustration and not by way of limitation. All parts are by weight.

Example 1 I v i p Parts ruiymeric allyl alcohol having a hydroxyl number of about 680 130.0 7 Phthalic anhydride 74.0

Fatty-acids of dehydrated castor oil 140.0

Example 2 g 7 Parts Polymeric allyl alcohol having a hydroxyl I number ofabout 600 57.0 'Phthalic anhydride -1 29.6 'Fatty' acids of dehydrated castor oil 56.4

The phthalic anhydride and fatty acids "are heated together to 150 C., and the polymeric allyl alcohol is added to the well-stirred mixture with- "out preventing access of air to the reaction mass. -Darkening occurs after heating for 30 minutes in this manner. Carbon dioxideis introduced into 'the reaction mass as described under Example: 1, andheating iscontinued for-"7 hoursatl60--to I80-C., yielding a dark-colored, heat-curable;

resinous matenai havingan and austere-ace 100. a 7

The above-stated amountlo f'so'ya bean'oil and parts of polymeric 'allyl alcoholare heate'd to 235 C. over 'a period of 40 minutes, after-which 0.45 part of calcium hydroxide is added. After heating 01550 minutes emce 0.,"0'113 parto'f sodium hydroxide is-added and, after "5 minutes,

B Parts Partial esterification produot'o'f 'A. 286i0'0 Phthalic anhydride "11028 are heated together to200-C. over a period-of 20 minutes while passing a stream ofcarbon dioxide through the reaction mass. Thetemperature is raised to 235 C. overa period of 65minutes. A soluble, fusible resin which is heat-com vertible to a substantially insoluble, substantially infusible state is obtained by further heating the reaction mass for 2 hours at235 C. This resin has an acid number of 44.5. When the-cold resin is heated to 235 0. overs. period of 30 minutes and further heatedfor=45 minutes at 235 -C., it does not gel.

The resinous composition'of this example yields hard, well-cured; water-resistant films from solutions thereof upon heating-a tin panel coated with a solution of the resin for 15 minutes at C. o "Emample d Pa-rts Polymeric allyl alcohol having a hydroxyl number of about 680 fl- 46.5 Benzoic"acid 1 1 ..1 '--24:4 Maleic anhydrider"a. ..e;= fi;. 29i4 The polymeric 'allyl alcohol and b'enzo'i'c j'a c'id are heated together for'3' hours atl'75 C. The

' 'maleic anhydride' is added 'and the're'sultirig' reaction mass is heated for 25 minutes at 175* 'C. to yield a resinous material'whichfwhencoolls brittle, slightly tacky "and clear amen-n "color in thin layers. 7 H

The polymericsallyl alcohol and benzoic a'cid are heated together for 2' hours at l'60 td1'70- C. The maleicanhydride is' now added. Aften'h'eating the resulting reaction mass -for zyzzncurs at 0., a resin is obtained that, when cooL-is slightlyropaque' and which has -a' tackiness somewhat-resembling astickwwax;

Sebacic acid Example 6 Parts Polymeric allyl alcohol having a hydroxylv number of about 680 46.5 Benzoic acid 73.2 Maleic anhydride 19.6

The polyallyl alcohol and benzoic' acid are heated together for 17 hours at 200 C., yielding an opaque partial esterification producthaving an acid. number of 92. This product is ,now heated with the maleic anhydride in accordance with the following approximate heating schedule:

Temp, C Hours At the end of this period the hot resin is a clear amber in color in thin layers, cooling to a sticky, slightly opaque resinous material which is somewhat waxy in nature and has an acid number of 107. f

Twenty parts of the above resin and 40 parts of nitrocellulose /2 sec.) are mixed with 132 parts of butyl acetate and 43 parts of toluene,

and the resulting mixture iswarmed on. a steam bath, yielding aclear, brown solution. Air-dried films of this solution are hard and slightly yellow in color.

Example 7 I Parts Polymeric allyl alcohol having a hydroxyl number of about 680 65.0 Phthalic anhydride 37.0

Tall oil acids (mixture of fatty acids and l rosin containing rosin acids and about 10% of unsaponifiable material) 70.0

Example 8 Parts Polymeric allyl alcohol having a hydroxyl number of about 680 46.5 Benzoic acid 24.4 Succinic acid 35.4

are heated together for 30 minutes at 175 C. to yield a resinous material which, when hot, is a clear amber in color in thin layers and an opaque, tacky resin somewhat wax-like in nature when cold.

Example 9 Parts Polymeric allyl alcohol having a hydroxyl number of 680 46.5 Benzoic acid 73.2 40.4

The same procedure is followed as described Time 111 crimsonsa under Example 'I. The acid number of the resin is about 162. A butyl acetate-toluene solution of this resin and nitrocellulose /2 sec.) is prepared as described under Example 6. Air-dried films Polymeric allylalcohol: having a hydroxyl Phthalic anhydride 1514 produced from this solution are hard, transpar' ent-and slightly yellow in color. v

Example 10 i The same formula andprocedure are followed as described under Examples 8 and ,9. with .the exception'that 29.6 parts of phthalic anhydride is used in-place of 35.4 parts of succinic acid. as in Example 8 or instead of 40.4 parts ofzsebacic acid as in Example 9. Air-dried films of solutions of the resin and nitrocellulose, whichsolutions are prepared as described in Example 8,;- areahard, transparent and slightlyyellowin color. The following examples illustrate the results obtained when an unmodified alkyd resin is from -polymeric, allyl. alcohol.

Example 11 i Parts ri'uinber'of about 600."; Succinic acid are heated together in an oil bath maintained at 190-220 C. for 1 /4 hours, while passing a stream of carbon dioxide through the reaction ma ss. At the end of this period theproduct-is a dark tan-colored gel, which is insoluble in the ordinary solvents. l

' Examplele Polymeric allyl alcohol having a number of about 680 are heated together, while passing a streain' 'of carbon dioxide through the reaction mass -in an oil bath maintained at C'. for 3 hours, after which the temperature is raised within 15'minut'es to 200 C. After heating'ior an additional 16 hours at this highertemperature the productgels 'to-a-light-colored solid.

i 1 t Polymeric allyl alcohol having a hydroxyl number of about 680 100 Tricarballylie acid 100 The same procedure is followed as described under the preceding example with the exception.

that heating at a bath temperature of 200 C. is continued for only 15 minutes. At the end of this period the tricarballylic ester gels to a lightcolored solid.

Erample'14 Parts. Polymeric allyl alcohol having an acid number of about 680 85 Phthalic anhydride 74 are heated together to 190 C. under an atmosphere of carbon dioxide, and held at this temperature for 30 minutes. The temperature is then lowered to C. After heating for 1 hour and 50 minutes at this lower temperature, the mass begins to gel.

The alkyd resins of this invention are particularly useful in applications where hard films havmade nitrate, ..etc., and with many other materials yielding compositions v-havingimproved properties over the unmodified material.

..W e claim: I

" l-..Amethod ofpre arin a es n comprisin tee steps of (1) partiallyesterifying.(a)v a'polyliner of an alcohol having ethylenic unsaturation between two carbon atoms in an aliphatic groupingyone ot'whieh carbon atoms is directlylinked to a saturate-carbinol carbon atom, said poly- -mer-containi-ng an average-number of- CH2OH groups per-molecule of from three to ten with. Kb) 'amemberselected from the group consisting of saturated, ethylenically unsaturated, and arematic monocarboxylic acids containing more than one carbon atom, and anhydrides thereof, and (2) completing the esterif -lcation reaction at a temperaturewithin the-range of 150 C; to 250 lay-reacting, untilacompositionhaving an acid wmhcm f om-51 9. about 60 ha b en bta ned th P JQQ Q or pa al 's erifia i n f; a) ari (12 with r it) a embe elected-twin. th v em consistin 9 :sawra ed.,e hylnita1. unsaturated and aromati eq yee boxyl c es n co ain n m re than tw car o atom nd, e hydr de thereof, said ingredients of (b) and (c) being employed in an amount, corresponding to from about 10 to about '70 mol per cent of the latter ofclaim 1.

to from about 90 to; a bout. 530 mol per cent of the former, and the ingredient of (a) being emp oyedin an .am ilntcorrespond neto fromebpu fito 30% .in. excessof that. required for complete esterification of the in redien s of. v and (a) and constituting at 1east30% of the totalpo yhydric alcohol reactant.

2. 'Aemethodas in claim 1 wherein the polymer of the'alcohol of .(a) is polymeric allyl alcohol containing an average number of ,.GH20H groups per molecule of from four to ten.

3; A'methodasincl-aim 1 wherein the polymer ofthe alcohol of .(a). is polymeric methallyl alcohol containing an average number of CH2OH ,s per molecule of from four to ten. .4, A resin which is the product of the method HARRY F ED P ANN- EDWARD L. KROPA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fileof th s pa ent STATES PATENTS N mbe Na a e 1,972,521 Ilifi et a1 Sept. 4, 1934 T" I 1 255%63 sE hw de -.-.--e------ Apr- 1 9 2 138 4 5. Em r: ..-,-,-.-V-' T 3, 9 ,332ifw0 Musk t. e .el T Oc 9;'. 4. 2,350,39 Bur-t l Q '1 1. 4 2. 3.7852 Bradl y a u 9l' 95 2,401,959 Pfann et al June 11,1946 2,426,913 Adels on et a1. Sept. 2; 1947 OTHER R FEREN E Smith. J oi the fiocie rof Ch m ca .l dus er Yetta. November lBQl pages U 75 i035- lis: The. fl emis ry ofiS nth t c Res ns v l- 2, N35 c e. Q la s page 32 192 ewe-.96 

1. A METHOD OF PREPARING A RESIN COMPRISING THE STEPS OF (1) PARTIALLY ESTERIFYING (A) A POLYMER OF AN ALCOHOL HAVING ETHYLENIC UNSATURATION BETWEEN TWO CARBON ATOMS IN AN ALIPHATIC GROUPING, ONE OF WHICH CARBON ATOMS IS DIRECTLY LINKED TO A SATURATED CARBINOL CARBON ATOM, SAID POLYMER CONTAINING AN AVERAGE NUMBER OF -CH2OH GROUPS PER MOLECULE OF FROM THREE TO TEN, WITH (B) A MEMBER SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF SATURATED, ETHYLENICALLY UNSATURATED, AND AROMATIC MONOCARBOXYLIC ACIDS CONTAINING MORE THAN ONE CARBON ATOM, AND ANHYDRIDES THEREOF, AND (2) COMPLETING THE ESTERIFICATION REACTION AT A TEMPERATURE WITHIN THE RANGE OF 150* C. TO 250* C. BY REACTING, UNTIL A COMPOSITION HAVING AN ACID NUMBER OF FROM 5 TO ABOUT 160 HAS BEEN OBTAINED, THE PRODUCT OF PARTIAL ESTERIFICATION OF (A) AND (B) WITH (C) A MEMBER SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF SATURATED, ETHYLENICALLY UNSATURATED, AND AROMATIC POLYCARBOXYLIC ACIDS CONTAINING MORE THAN TWO CARBON ATOMS, AND ANHYDRIDES THEREOF, SAID INGREDIENTS OF (B) AND (C) BEING EMPLOYED IN AN AMOUNT CORRESPONDING TO FROM ABOUT 10 TO ABOUT 70 MOL PER CENT OF THE LATTER TO FROM ABOUT 90 TO ABOUT 30 MOL PER CENT OF THE FORMER, AND THE INGREDIENT OF (A) BEING EMPLOYED IN AN AMOUNT CORRESPONDING TO FROM ABOUT 3 TO 30% IN EXCESS OF THAT REQUIRED FOR COMPLETE ESTERIFICATION OF THE INGREDIENTS OF (B) AND (C) AND CONSTITUTING AT LEAST 30% OF THE TOTAL POLYHYDRIC ALCOHOL REACTANT. 